How Hardware Affects Tone & Tele-Great Bill Hullett - Ask Zac 44

April 17, 2020

How does changing bridges, saddles, and perhaps even tuners affect your guitar's tone? Today I take that on, looking at vintage style 3-saddle bridges vs heavy brass 6-saddle bridges, what to expect going from steel to brass saddles, and what happens when you install die-cast tuners. I also shine a spotlight on one of the great Telecaster players in Nashville, Bill Hullett, and take a look at his work on Radney Foster's "Just Call Me Lonesome."

Gear used in Video:

2019 Danocaster Blackguard (1953 Telecaster Style) with Ron Ellis 52T (Bridge) and Julian Lage (Neck)

Strings: Ernie Ball 10,13,15,24,32,42

Pick: Blue Chip TPR 35 RB

Amp: 1967 Deluxe Reverb amp with Celestion V30 speaker

Effects used:

TC Polytune

Mirage compressor pedal

Boss DM-3

9v power via Truetone CS6  

I also spotlight Bill Hullett, and talk about both his musical contributions, and how he taught Joe Glaser enough that he refers to him as "Mr. Telecaster." I also show his stellar intro to Radney Foster's "Just Call Me Lonesome." Bill was kind enough to share: "The entire Radney record was done with all guitars plugged straight into the amp.... no pedals or rack gear, with one exception on "Nobody Wins" it was a Fender 12 string straight into a Mesa Boogie Studio pre amp. On "Lonesome, "it was my original 1952 Nocaster into a stock reissue Fender tweed Bassman, #9 Ernie Ball strings. And a Fender heavy pick."

Bill Hullett's 1951 Nocaster, serial number 0514. The guitar on "Just Call Me Lonesome."

Bill Hullett with his Nacho made replica of his 1951 Nocaster

Here are shots of his 1951 Nocaster, serial number 0514

Dirk Wacker's 2009 interview with Hullett for Premier Guitar